CAREER: Unraveling the Cluster Chemistry of Chalcogenide Semiconductor Nanoparticles

凭借这一奖项，化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目资助俄克拉荷马州立大学的Yolanda Vasquez教授合成十亿分之一米大小的粒子的基础知识，这些粒子包含硫、硒和碲元素，统称为硫原。这些纳米结构有许多用途，包括电视和手机显示器以及敏感的生物医学成像。寻求改进对新开发的结构和化学成分的控制的策略。新的化学组合和结构对于在现有和新的技术应用中实现最佳性能至关重要。该教育计划为研究生和本科生在纳米科学领域的跨学科研究做好准备。在俄勒冈州立大学校园举行的纳米技术夏令营中，研究生和本科生担任中学生的学生导师。动手活动适合10-12岁的孩子，目的是提高他们对科学领域的早期意识和兴趣。俄勒冈州立大学开设了一门专题本科课程，以支持学生对跨学科研究日益增长的兴趣。通过研究和推广活动，瓦斯奎兹博士旨在扩大从K-12到研究生院的不同学生群体的参与。由于在发光二极管、生物标签和催化剂以及光电和医疗设备中使用的材料中的应用，二元硫属化合物是一些研究得最充分的纳米材料。具有控制组成、尺寸和形态的合成策略已经实现，因此，对所得性质的控制已经被开发出来。纳米颗粒的组成、大小、形状和结晶相是相互依赖的，从这些参数推导出的潜在合成机制并不总是很清楚。在分子水平上控制这些变量仍然是该领域的主要挑战之一。在这项NSF CAREER奖中，Vasquez博士致力于产生关于中间体（如硫离子簇）作用的基础知识，以及它们对溶液中纳米颗粒的组成、大小、形状和结构的影响。此外，碳晶格的坚固性使得通过阴离子和阳离子交换反应对纳米材料的组成进行合成后修饰成为可能。该研究小组的目标是通过为10-12岁的儿童实施纳米技术夏令营，扩大代表性不足的群体对科学的参与。俄勒冈州立大学开设了一门专题本科课程，以支持学生对跨学科研究日益增长的兴趣。

With this award, the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program in the Division of Chemistry is funding Professor Yolanda Vasquez at Oklahoma State University to generate fundamental knowledge on the synthesis of particles at the size of a billionth of a meter that contain the elements sulfur, selenium, and tellurium - collectively known as the chalcogens. These nanostructures have many uses including in television and cell phone displays and for sensitive biomedical imaging. Strategies to improve control of the newly developed structures and chemical compositions are sought. The new chemical combinations and structures are critical to achieving optimal performance in existing and new technological applications. The educational program prepares both graduate and undergraduate students for interdisciplinary research careers in nanoscience. Graduate and undergraduate students at the nanotechnology summer camp held on the OSU campus serve as student mentors to middle schoolers. Hands-on activities are geared towards children ages 10-12 with the goal of promoting early awareness and interest in science fields. A special topics undergraduate course supports the growing student interest in interdisciplinary research at OSU. Through research and outreach activities, Dr. Vasquez aims to broaden the participation of a diverse student population from K-12 through graduate school. Binary chalcogenides are some of the most well-studied nanomaterials due to their applications in light emitting diodes, bio-labels, and catalysts, as well as in materials used in electro-optical and medical devices. Synthetic strategies with control over the composition, size, and morphology have been achieved thus, control over the resulting properties has been exploited. The composition, size, shape, and the crystalline phase of the nanoparticles are interdependent and the underlying synthetic mechanisms derived from these parameters are not always clear. Control over these variables at the molecular level continues to be one of the main challenges in the field. In this NSF CAREER award, Dr. Vasquez seeks to generate fundamental knowledge on the role of intermediates, such as chalcogen ionic clusters, and their effect on the composition, size, shape, and structure of the resulting nanoparticles in solution. Additionally, the robustness of the chalcogen lattice makes post-synthetic modification of the composition of the nanomaterials possible through anion and cation exchange reactions. The research group aims to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in science through the implementation of a nanotechnology summer camp for children ages 10-12. A special topics undergraduate course supports the growing student interest in interdisciplinary research at OSU.